Scaffold safety

Scaffolds must adhere to CSA Standard CAN/CSA S269.2-M87 (R2003), Access Scaffolding for Construction Purposes, during construction, alteration, repair, or demolition of buildings and other structures. [2]

Key design and load requirements include:

• Adequate bracing against lateral movement
• Anchoring at specified vertical and horizontal intervals
• Setting plumb on a stable base with load dispersing devices
• Scaffolds designed and constructed to support at least 4 times the load imposed on them
• Loads never exceeding 1/4 of the designed load

[2] [2] Additional safety measures for scaffolding include:

• Using scaffold planks graded as scaffold grade or better and of specified dimensions
• Proper use, storage, inspection, and maintenance of scaffold planks
• Visual inspection of scaffold planks before installation
• Securing scaffold planks to prevent movement
• Platforms with a minimum width of 500 millimetres (300 millimetres in some cases)
• Platforms designed for adequate footing and continuous around obstructions

[1] [1] [1] [1] Metal scaffolding must be erected, used, inspected, maintained, and dismantled according to manufacturer's specifications or specifications certified by a professional engineer, with structural parts securely fastened. [1]

A scaffold must be tagged at each entry point with color-coded tags to indicate its safety status:

• Green Tag: Safe for Use
• Yellow Tag: Caution: Potential or Unusual Hazard
• Red Tag: Unsafe for Use [3]

Specific scaffolds require inspection and tagging by a competent worker before first use and at intervals of no more than 21 calendar days. [3]

Each tag must include the scaffold's duty rating, inspection date, inspector's name, precautions, and expiry date. [3]

A worker must only use a vertical ladder on a scaffold to move between levels, maintaining a 3-point stance and avoiding extending any body part beyond the ladder's side rails. [4]

Ladders attached to scaffolds must be secured, not leaning, and extend at least 1 meter above the uppermost level, with uniformly spaced rungs. [4]